If you ask veteran homeschoolers who have children with special needs what they would do differently, many will tell you that they wish they had homeschooled their child from the beginning. Bringing your child with special needs home for their education can alleviate some of the ancillary issues that can arise in a traditional school setting – isolation, loneliness, low self-esteem, and even depression. Whether you start homeschooling your child with special needs from day one, or if you are considering pulling them out of a traditional school setting, amongst the vast available Special Education Resources; there are three secrets of special education homeschooling you should know.
1. You Already Are Your Child’s Best Teacher;
Until kindergarten who provided your child with care, taught him all they know? You! (Pssstttt… that’s also called homeschooling.) No one in the world is going to go to the lengths you will to make sure your child is in the most loving, encouraging environment. This is not to say that you, and you alone, will make homeschooling a success. But, you will be in charge of the Special Education Homeschool Resources you use, and which people are actively involved in your child’s education.
2. Homeschooling Is An Alternative, Not A Fix-All;
Whether your child is profoundly gifted with learning challenges or struggles with ADHD, bringing them home is not going to change those challenges. What does change however, is the environment in which they’ll be learning. You are free to let your fifth grader move onto Trigonometry if that’s what they need to do. You are free to break lessons into ten-minute segments and slow down the pace if that is what works for your child.
3. It’s Okay To Take A Break;
One of the things new homeschoolers struggle with is the fact that you really are in charge of your schedule. If you have a child who has attention or sensory issues and they are having a particularly difficult day, sometimes, one of the best things you can do is to go out for a hike. Cancel whatever is on your schedule and get outside! A re-set day can do wonders for you and your child.
Whether you’ve just started or you’re still considering homeschooling, keep these three secrets in mind.
Aside from the infinite number of Homeschool Resources, other forms of additional academic assistance exist for children with special needs. Special Education Tutoring is growing in popularity amongst the homeschooler population. Working one-on-one with a special education expert has proven to be effective in achieving academic results faster, while showing a significant decrease in behaviors.
Whichever option you choose, it won’t be easy, but it will be rewarding, challenging and, most importantly, fun.
